The Steering Committee of the Fund has adopted a merit-based approach to assess applications for funding with a view to making the best use of the Fund and taking into account factors including the latest technology developments. One application has been approved in this batch (Note) for the trial of an electric special-purpose vehicle as a mobile medical clinic, involving a total subsidy of $0.75 million.

The latest approval brings the total number of trials approved under the Fund to 300, with a total subsidy of about $243 million. As at end-November 2024, a total of 210 approved trials under the Fund have been completed. Trial reports have been uploaded to the Fund’s website (www.eeb.gov.hk/en/new-energy-transport-fund/AT.html#Trial_Reports).

The technology of electric vehicles and batteries is becoming more mature and has been widely used in Mainland China and overseas cities. With the subsidy from the Fund, around 140 trials of electric commercial vehicles have been completed, with around 90 trials either set to commence soon or already commenced. The feasibility of local adoption of electric commercial vehicles has been fully verified through applications. To allow the Fund to focus on subsidising new energy technologies with a more pressing need for trials in the local context in future, the Steering Committee confirmed after discussion that the Fund will cease to accept applications for trials of all types of electric commercial vehicles from April 1, 2025. Applications received before that date will continue to be assessed using the merit-based approach.

Except for electric commercial vehicles, the Fund will continue to accept applications for trials of other types of new energy commercial vehicles to expedite the green transformation of the transport trade. The Fund has also launched the Funding Scheme to Trial of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Heavy Vehicles, which is open for applications from today. For more details, please visit the website of the scheme (www.eeb.gov.hk/en/Netfund/h2trial.html).

The Government put in place the Fund in March 2011 to subsidise the testing and encourage wider use of green transport technologies for a variety of commercial transport tools, including goods vehicles (including special-purpose vehicles), taxis, light buses, buses, vessels, motorcycles, non-road vehicles (applicable to vehicle models approved by the Transport Department or the Airport Authority Hong Kong), or the aforesaid transport tools of charitable/non-profit making organisations providing services to their clients. The technologies to be subsidised include new energy vehicles or vessels, conversion of in-use conventional vehicles or vessels to new energy vehicles or vessels, and after-treatment emission reduction devices or fuel-saving devices applicable to vehicles and vessels. Transport operators and charitable/non-profit making organisations may apply for trying out different green technology products subject to a maximum subsidy of $10 million for each application and a total of $12 million for each applicant.

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202412/19/P2024121900210.htm

Statement by WV Stahl on the Meta-Study on Behalf of the National Hydrogen Council